Category: Crafty Crap

Today I’m joining in series of Blog With Friends theme collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. In any given month there may have a recipe, sewing tutorial, crafts projects, book review and/or a technology post all related to the theme of the month. Links to all those participating are at the bottom of this post! Thanks to Karen of Baking in a Tornado for all she does with these collaborations!!

At the bottom are links to all the posts other have prepared. Enjoy! Here goes……

“Why did you refinish my firewood???” Dr. Evil texted me when he found our kitchen table in the garage.

This table. This poor old table has seen much better days. We bought it 12 years ago somewhat on a whim (us, implusive? no….never). It is made of solid pine. Did you know solid pine is solid, heavy, and SOFT? Within 45 minutes of owning this table it had it’s first ownership mark. Eldest chewed on the leg and it made marks. Awesome, right?

Over the years, the table has become more tired and abused. Nail polish, Easter egg dye, carvings by children and pumpkin knives have left their marks. And two weeks ago, the table was nearly replaced. We went looking for a new set of couches and found a table. Given our impulsive shopping methods I purposely left my wallet at home. We found a table that was wonderful however given we NEED a new mattress, our couches are older than three of the kids and smell like dog, and our carpet has been chewed on by dogs, a table is fourth (at least) on the list.

Dr. Evil went on travel. I hatched a plan. I had the Bigs help me get the table out of the house and into the garage. Off to the Home Depot I went and bought some basic supplies. Sand paper of two different grits, clear poly, and staining pads.

For two nights I sanded. Not much pressure was required. Sanding with the grain and in even strokes was my goal. I started the varnish. Even strokes with the grain across the entire surface for each stroke. Some trial and error showed me stopping half way across the table left streaks and air bubbles in the varnish. After three coats I used a super fine grit sand paper to rid the table of any streaks. Three more coats of poly and …. TA DAH! My kids now have a place to do homework and will no longer get splinters while they study!!

I saved us $970. The table we were looking at was $1000. My supplies were only $30. (I already owned the hand held sander.)